We went bushwalking at Binna Burra in the Gold Coast hinterland over the weekend. It was the most beautiful country I've seen in a long time. Massive waterfalls, enormous trees, craggy escarpments - it was just such lovely country.
But the highlight for me was the 16.6km hike that took our family of 5 (including our 7 year old) 8 hours. Sure we saw all these things, but it was the other things I saw that really stood out for me:
- I saw a family, who despite bickering over what TV shows they watch or who gets to sit where on the couch, actually love being together.
- I saw our kids helping each other out over the boulders and through the muddy sections, guiding the footsteps of those walking behind them.
- I saw us as parents learning new things from our kids and new things about our kids.
- I saw our quietest child, who has the least faith in himself, emerge as the leader, setting the pace and taking charge.
- I saw a family who found all sorts of things to talk about - faith, life, dreams and love.
If I could trade those 3 days in for any other 3 days in this life I wouldn't do it. They were some of the most precious days I have ever lived. It goes to show that it's not the big holidays that necessarily leave the biggest memories, because it's all about the quality of those memories.
